Center Joshua Edwards
& Mary Jane Choate

Center (Senter) Joshua Edwards, son of Berry EDWARDS, Sr., & Ruth DAVIS, was
born June 2, 1826, in Ashe Co., NC, and died Aug. 19, 1901, in
Alleghany Co., NC. He married Mary Jane Choate, daughter
of Richard "Dickie" CHOATE & Sarah EDWARDS, Sept. 10, 1852, Ashe
Co., NC. She was his 2nd cousin. She was born July 3, 1836, and
died Mar. 15, 1899, in Alleghany Co., NC. Center and Mary are
buried at the Center Edwards Cemetery, located off Hwy. 21 near
Sparta, Alleghany Co., NC.

Notes

center Joshua ("C.J.") Edwards was the
fourth son of Berry Edwards, Sr., and Ruth Davis of Alleghany
County, NC. According Dr. A.B. Cox, Footprints in the Sands of Time" (1900), "Esquire Senter Edwards, a brother of David Edwards, married Miss Jane Choat, a charming good lady, wife and mother, a good neighbor and christian friend. Their son, Reed, is the present sheriff of Alleghany County. Esquire Senter Edwards is one of the county's best citizens and peace officers."

Center and Mary Jane are buried in a family cemetery located off Highway 21 about 1 ½ miles northwest of Sparta, NC. (See Alleghany County
Cemeteries Through 1986 pub. by the Alleghany Co. Hist.-Gen.
Society.)

1900 Census. Center Edwards is not listed in Alleghany
Co., NC, although his gravestone indicates he did not die until
1901. Center Edwards' estate was probated in 1904
in Alleghany County. (NC Archives Box No. CR.004.508.8.)

Deed Abstracts

Sept. 9, 1854. B. EDWARDS to Senter
EDWARDS, 100 acres on Bledsoes creek adj. the wagon road, east
side of Dick mountain orchard, top of the ridge, MOXLEY, &
line of said EDWARDS' 300 acre tract, for $1. "B.
EDWARDS is to have the privilege of the mill his lifetime to
grind." Signed: B. EDWARDS (ack'd). Wit: Starlin
EDWARDS. (Alleghany DB 1:149).